Lilian Jackson Braun - Cat 15 Who Went Into the Closet

"Did Mr. Crusoe see the video?"

"Crocus," she corrected. "Yes, and he still talks about it. He comes over to my yard and wants to talk about her. Today he told me something confidential. I'm not supposed to mention it in the park until it's official, but I can tell you. You probably know already that she left a lot of money to the park to build a health club."

"How did he know about it?"

"She told him. They were very good friends, I guess. They liked the same things. We all thought it would be nice if they got married. That's why it's so sad."

"Yes," Qwilleran murmured, then asked, "Do you suppose Mr. Crocus would care to be interviewed for this profile?"

"I don't know. He's kind of shy, but I could ask him. Would you like me to break the ice, sort of?"

"Would you be good enough to do that?" he requested. "Your cooperation is much appreciated. And may I call you again soon?"

"You know you don't have to ask, Mr. Qwilleran. It's lots of fun answering your questions."

After the call he dropped into a lounge chair to think, and Yum Yum walked daintily into the library. "Hello, princess," he said. "Where have you been?"

Taking that as an invitation, she leaped lightly to his knee, turned around three times, and found a place to settle down.

He adjusted her weight slightly without discommoding her and asked, "What happened to your confrŠre?"

The muted answer came from the closet-a series of soft thumps that aroused Qwilleran's curiosity. He excused himself and went to investigate. Koko was batting a small object this way and that, apparently having fun. It was a small maroon velvet box.

Qwilleran intercepted it and immediately called Junior again. "Guess what Koko has just dredged up in one of the closets! A jeweler's box containing a man's gold ring, probably your grandfather's! It's the only valuable item he's found."

"What kind of ring?"

"A signet, with an intricate design on the crown. I'll turn it over to you as soon as they dig us out."

"Which can't be too soon for me," Junior said. "I'm getting cabin fever."

"I've been talking to Celia Robinson again. Did you know your grandmother had a video of the house when it was still furnished?"

"Sure. She had me film the interior before she broke it up. After she died, I found the tape among her effects and brought it home for the historical museum."

"Well, for your information, she showed the film at the Park of Pink Sunsets, so we can assume that the park management knew about the lavish appointments. Now I'm wondering if they came to see for themselves - with an ulterior motive. Listen to this, Junior: Betty and Claude were in this house when we previewed 'The Big Burning.' They wandered around the rooms with the rest of the crowd."

"How do you know?"

"I saw them. Hixie saw them. We both wondered who they were. Since then, we've identified them from snapshots that Celia sent us. Now you know and I know that nobody - nobody - ever stops in Pickax on the way to somewhere else. They come here for a purpose or not at all, and Betty and Claude don't strike me as being duck hunters. They must have known about the preview - and the exact date. Could your grandmother have told them? Did she know about it?"

"Jody wrote to her once a week and probably mentioned it," Junior said. "Grandma would be interested because the script was based on her father-in-Iaw's memoirs, and she had a crush on him."

Qwilleran said, "Frankly, I've had doubts about the Pink Sunset operation ever since you told me they profiteer on the repurchase of mobile homes. Are they also in partnership with the guy who wanted to buy the light fixtures? We may have uncovered a story that's bigger than a profile of your eccentric grandmother."

"Wow! When it breaks," Junior said, "let's keep it exclusive with the Moose County Something!"

-14-

GRADUALLY MOOSE COUNTY struggled out from under the snow, as armies of volunteers swarmed over the neighborhoods, tunneling through to buried buildings. The snowdrifts never diminished, only shifted from one location to another, with one more inch of snow falling every day. WPKX now aired the lighter side of the news:

"Sig Olsen, a farmer near Sawdust City, had his chicken coop wrecked by the storm, and a loose board sailed through his kitchen window. He didn't know it until morning, when he got up and found his whole flock roosting around the wood-burning stove."

Qwilleran finally reached Hixie by phone. "Your line's constantly busy," he complained.

"I'm working on logistics for the Christmas parade," she explained. "The Something is cosponsoring it with Lanspeak's Department Store."

"Are you comfortable where you're staying?"

"Mais oui! Madame Herbert is a joli coeur! Did you do the three shows I scheduled before the Big Snow? I thought the one at the Senior Care Facility might be amusing."